Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

Kenny Rogers – Just Dropped In Bettye LaVette – What My Condition Is In Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In Supergrass – Condition

“Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” is the hit song that put Kenny Rogers (official/myspace) on the music map. His band was called The First Edition but was quickly replaced with Rogers’ name in less than a year to Kenny Rogers & The First Edition.

If you have a chance to listen to their hit song, you can clearly hear a very young Rogers doing his best psychedelic vocals, singing about the dangers of LSD and looking at the state of his condition. Rogers love the song so much, that even after his group broke up in the mid-70s, he re-recorded a different studio version on his album Ten Years Of Gold. The new version finds Rogers a little more bluesier.

The song caught the attention of producer Ollie McLaughlin, who had Bettye LaVette (official/myspace), record “What Condition My Condition Is In” as a B-Side to Popcorn Wylie and Tony Hester song, Get Away. Obviously, LaVette (previously recorded under Betty La Vette on Karen Records) brought a more soulful interpretation to the song.

It is obvious to me that New York’s Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (official/myspace), based their own version on LaVette’s… simply based on the singing style and especially the brass section on both songs. I love their version too, as I have previously had Sharon Jones on my Top 10 List for 2008.

Willie Nelson – Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

Mickey Newbury – Just Dropped In (To See What Condition Was In)

Honorable mentions should include Supergrass (official/myspace) and Willie Nelson (official/myspace) . ‘Grass concentrated more on the 60s psychedelic on their B-Side for Alright/Time single. Nelson loved the song so much that he included two different studio recording on his two cover albums: The Rainbow Connection and The Great Divide.

What’s interesting to note is that the song was written by American songwriter Mickey Newbury for Jerry Lee Lewis, who previously recorded it for his album Soul My Way, but was not promoted as a single. I don’t believe Newbury ever recorded a studio version of his now-famous song, but a live version does exist on his 1994 live album Nights When I am Sane.

Finally, I wanted to mention that fans of the cult-classic The Big Lebowski (1998), will be treated to the entire First Edition’s song for The Dude’s trip:

For a complete cover recording listing of “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”, head over to mickeynewbury.com, or see below:

As for Kenny Rogers, he’s still doing tours, at mostly casinos. His last album was Water & Bridges in 2006.